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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Terramotus" data-source="post: 4285765" data-attributes="member: 7220">Exactly.  I don't think it is allowed.  It goes against the stated goal of having multiple players participate.  If we're just seeing how high the main skill guy can roll, why are we even engaged in an initiative situation.  I don't think most people are parsing the words carefully.  It's as clear as it can get without specifically stating that Aid Another isn't allowed.This says to players are required to make skill checks.  Aid Another is a standard action on p.287 in the PHB that allows you to aid another character's skill check.  Aid another is not a skill check, it's another type of action.  Depending on how the DM is running the encounter, he may allow you to Aid Another in ADDITION to the required skill check, but I would think that would be mentioned if it were an option, and it would require the other actions in the challenge to be considered the equivalent of a move action.Not only that, but even if Aid Another were considered to be a skill check, then it would automatically also have consequences for failure.  True, it's dirt easy with a DC 10, but I don't think that's being accounted for.  The only skills that don't have consequences for failure are the ones specifically listed in the skill challenge, and those provide a -2 on a failed roll (and not with a DC 10, mind you).  Why would that option be present if Aid Another were allowed, when it's automatically superior?It seems clear to me that if you're involved in a skill challenge, you have no choice but to roll and risk failure.  That's not to say that everyone in the party must be involved in the skill challenge.  If the Ranger is running a good 50 feet ahead of the party tracking, he's the only one making checks.  If other people are making checks too, they run the risk of stomping over important clues, and ruining things, unless the DM wants there to be a specific option for them to aid him.If you talk at the Duke's dinner, you run the risk of ticking him off - simple.  If you're running the Urban Chase challenge, you're either chasing or you're not.Finally, it's obvious that Aid Another has a significant effect on the numbers if allowed, with its easy DC 10.  If it's allowed in a skill challenge, why isn't there even one mention of it as a valid tactic in the text?  It should be noted that, in the example, Kathra's +2 granted to an ally seems to be a bonus granted by a DM who liked her response, as her success is still tallied as one of the group's successes, thus it isn't an Aid Another action.  Also, it would have had to be a Bluff check, rather than a History check to work as an Aid Another.I think it's clear that you can't Aid Another to skip out on your skill check.  If a skill is specifically listed as having not counting as a failure and granting bonuses, such as Perception in the Urban Chase challenge, that's the only option.</blockquote>

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